Liverpool Football Club Dream Scene

Commissioned and fully licensed by Liverpool Football Club to commemorate their 125th Anniversary.

After 6 months of work, the result is this magnificent 3 metre oil painting depicting a selection of Liverpool FC greats that have helped shape the Club during its 125-year history. Through Cooper’s brush, they have been brought together into one magical moment in time, in the current day dressing rooms at Anfield.

Legends of the club, spanning several generations, live and breathe together swapping stories from across the ages, stories that have become part of club folklore.

This is surely every fan’s dream come true!

Officially licensed by Liverpool Football Club, and meticulously reproduced from the original oil painting, high quality Fine Art reproductions are now available to all Reds fans, on paper and canvas.

**FREE BONUS. All print options come with a superb 13 page colour booklet explaining the many stories woven into the scene.

AND each medium and large canvas options come with a printed version of the artist’s preliminary pencil sketch.

LITHOGRAPH ON PAPER: Unframed. 95cm x 42.5cm. Open edition. 

Printed onto 300 gsm archival, acid free, high quality art paper using lightfast pigment inks.

CANVAS REPRODUCTION – SMALL. 130cm x 43cm. Open Edition.

Printed onto high quality cotton canvas from a super hi resolution scan from the original oil painting. Gallery wrapped around wooden stretcher bars to look and feel like a real painting. This unique print comes with a modern red border edging that requires no framing unless desired. Print is delivered with hanging brackets ready to place on the wall.

CANVAS REPRODUCTION – MEDIUM. 180cm x 60cm.

Limited Edition of only 125, worldwide. Each one is unique, given a year of the Club’s existence. Eg. 1/125 – “1892′, 2/125 – ‘1893’ etc…

Printed onto high quality cotton canvas from a super hi resolution scan from the original oil painting. Gallery wrapped around wooden stretcher bars to look and feel like a real painting. This unique print comes with a modern red border edging that requires no framing unless desired. Print is delivered with hanging brackets ready to place on the wall.

CANVAS REPRODUCTION – LARGE. 270cm x 90cm.

Limited Edition of only 125, worldwide. Each one is unique, given a year of the Club’s existence. Eg. 1/125 – “1892′, 2/125 – ‘1893’ etc…

Printed onto high quality cotton canvas from a super hi resolution scan from the original oil painting. Gallery wrapped around wooden stretcher bars to look and feel like a real painting. This unique print comes with a modern red border edging that requires no framing unless desired. Print is delivered with hanging brackets ready to place on the wall.

*FREE 13 page colour booklet. see E-booklet below.

*FREE Print of Artist’s Preliminary Pencil Sketch.

THE STORY

A very special gathering inside the dressing room in the New Main Stand.  Our founding father, John Houlding, has called together some of the greatest personalities from across our 125 years of history. We can see the changes in appearance of the players and their playing kit as they gather in the Red’s inner sanctum, and some have brought along objects deep with meaning. This is now a magical room adorned with trophies and cultural references from the club’s proud history. Imagine the Liverpool legends from across the ages sharing their memories as the veil is pulled back on the greatest scene a Kopite could hope for.

Bob Paisley’s astute gaze invites us to join this magical scene. He’s not saying a lot and leaving the champagne alone. Bob wants to remember this incredible meeting of Anfield’s finest. He’s brought along one of his three European Cups – that will do the talking for him. Brian Clough reckoned ‘he talks more sense than ten managers all together’…

…but wait, ‘Boom!’ All the talking is between Jurgen Klopp and Bill Shankly trading talk of ‘sweat boxes’ and ‘heavy metal’ football, the conversation crackling with quotable one-liners. Jurgen is probably admiring Shankly’s 1970s tie and shirt combination whilst Shanks offers a handshake, recognising a man who shares his passion for the game.

Tom Watson rests a hand on Shank’s shoulder. Our first great manager is happy to recognise our most famous, although Watson might be gently reminding the Scottish master of great ideas, that it was he who first had the idea of the red shirt… Yep, Watson built the foundations and he built them well, winning the League twice and in no small part by signing Alex Raisbeck. He was sent away clutching a contract and an ultimatum, to ‘sign Raisbeck – or don’t bother to come back!’

Alderman John Houlding, Mayor of Liverpool and President of Liverpool FC takes it all in. He awaits his fellows in the famous Boot Room for what will truly be a meeting of the minds, perhaps reflecting on how his support of a Sunday School football team back in 1877 resulted in the creation of two of the great names in football. His legacy is huge, and there is much for him to discover. So many players, so many games, so many titles and trophies, such a band of supporters, all flowing from his original vision…

2. ‘From me to you…’

Alex Raisbeck (1898-1909), Steven Gerrard M.B.E. (1988-2014) and John Barnes (1987-1997) 

‘Here you go, mate. You’ll not have seen one of them.’ Steven Gerrard M.B.E. hands Alex Raisbeck his Premier League armband as they swap tales of inspirationally captaining the team at opposite ends of the clubs’ history. Raisbeck proudly nurses the 1st Division League Championship Trophy having won ‘The Old Lady’ in 1901 and 1906. If Stevie feels a twinge of envy, Alex counters with admiration as he hears about the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ and the ‘Gerrard Final’.

John Barnes agrees. He knows all about winning, and both Gerrard and Raisbeck want him to tell them once again about THAT goal. Many think it the greatest scored by a Red at Anfield. It was on 17th October 1987 against Crystal Palace, when Barnes was the undisputed star of one of the greatest teams fielded in LFC’s 125 years, a team so good it was described as like watching Brazil.

3. Mutual respect.

Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish M.B.E. (1977-1991, 2011-2012) and William Beveridge Liddell J.P. (1939-1961)

‘I owe Bob Paisley more than I owe anybody else in the game. There will never be another like him.’ ‘Kenny Dalgish M.B.E is explaining to Billy Liddell, as these two footballing giants shake hands.

‘I feel the same way. Much of my success came about because of Bob’s work at left-back feeding me. He was an inconspicuous craftsman.’

I like the idea of great players from different times introducing themselves in their prime. I imagine what they would have discussed about how they would worked together on the field and what little secrets they would have shared. Two modest men, held in the very highest esteem shake hands in mutual respect. Friendly debate will continue about which of the two men dubbed ‘King’ by the Kopites was the best of all time. It matters not; both became exemplars of all that is good in football on and off the field of play.

‘They named a stand after me,’ Dalglish admits with a cheeky smile. ‘They named the club after me!’ Quips the man who turned us into ‘Liddlepool’.

4. Here’s looking at you…

Jordan Henderson (2011- present, club captain), Elisha Scott (1912-1934), Ian Callaghan M.B.E (1960-1978) and Roger Hunt M.B.E (1958-1969)

I wanted the centre section of the painting to engage the viewer directly. These 4 men are looking at you, the fans, acknowledging that this belongs to you, that each Reds fan owns this history and is just as much a part of it as the players. It’s almost as if they are saying “ We present this to you, we couldn’t do any of this without you… the fans.”

Elisha Scott, the tough and uncompromising Ulsterman, stands with arms folded and holds you in his stern gaze. No small talk, let alone popping champagne corks for him. He’s Liverpool’s master gate guardian. A goalkeeper for a record 22 years and that doesn’t come by larking about. Adored by the fans, yet feared for his biting comments on the field, ‘Lisha’ is surveying all before him. He’s reminding us that whilst there is so much to celebrate, this club’s traditions and legacy also carry with it moments of huge significance, far beyond the game itself.

This fact deserves a moment of reverence. Poignant reminders of the dreadful tragedies that have marked the club’s history and recognition of those most important of people – the supporters.

Beside him, and a little contemplative, is our current captain Jordan Henderson. He’s drinking everything in, learning from the immense weight of talent gathered in this room and appreciating the expectations that come with the coveted armband. A lesser man might crumble under the weight of expectation.

At the feet of ‘King’ Billy (and happy there) is the man who took the place of his boyhood hero – Ian Callaghan. ‘Cally’ is a gentleman, who’s quiet charm belies the fact he played a record 850 games over an astonishing career that stretched from an amateur in 1957 to the great ‘double’ season of 1976-77.

But take a moment to ask Cally and his best friend Roger Hunt, who kneels close by, what were their proudest moments in a Liverpool shirt, and both glance at the F A Cup and talk about May 1965. It brought nearly half a million joyous supporters into the city in scenes that over-shadowed The Beatles being feted in the same town hall, a few weeks earlier. Roger set up the winning goal for fellow marksman Ian St John – and was happy for ‘The Saint’. Roger shuns the limelight and is probably silently cursing that he’s ended up front stage in this group! But the Kop’s very own Red Knight broke the club goal-scoring record and still retains the record number scored in the League. Both Cally and he are amongst that oh-so-small group of Englishmen who have won the World Cup. ‘Sir’ Roger played in all the games in the finals and scored two crucial goals. Not that you’ll find him bragging about it. (And yes, he saw Geoff Hurst’s shot cross the line…)

5. Let the good times roll….

Emlyn Hughes (1967-1979), Jamie Carragher (1996-2013), Joseph Thurston – mascot competition winner

Ian Rush (1980-1996), Gordon Hodgson (1925-1936) and Ray Clemence (1967-1981)

The young Joseph Thurston, lucky winner of the competition to join this great gathering, is being carefully shepherded into the dressing room by Jamie Carragher. He is a very important inclusion as he looks on in wonder, proudly wearing new Liverpool kit, clutching an Autograph book and a “Boys Pen” and a Mighty Red mascot. He represents the lifeblood of the club, the next generation, the future. That starry-eyed look of wonder on his face reveals the passion that will drive him and millions like him to keep Liverpool Football Club culture strong, whether it be as a future player or a loyal fan.

Carra is pointing out Ray Clemence, already eager to open the champagne – the bottle’s certainly in safe hands, even if his (rarely used) goalkeeping gloves are lying close by. ‘Clem’ is many people’s vote as our finest ‘keeper, and one of the more lively members of the dressing room. Emlyn ‘Crazy Horse’ Hughes is cheering too, with one hand on the European Cup he first held aloft as captain in Rome 1977.

Prolific goal scorer Ian Rush pokes fun at Gordon Hodgson for turning up with three footballs. ‘Never mind those three, I scored 346 goals – that’s better than ‘Sir’ Roger’!’

‘That’s true, Ian, but I still got 241 from 377 games – you’ve got admit that’s not bad, and don’t forget, nobody ever bagged more hat-tricks than me…’

Gemma Bonner’s 2017-18 season shirt hangs on a peg above the Women’s Super League trophy. Gemma successfully captained Liverpool Ladies FC throughout both League-winning seasons of 2013 and 2014 and in so doing, truly earned her place in club history.

Blue & White shirt. When the Board of Directors of Everton Football Club fell out with John Houlding in 1892, they moved to Goodison Park and elected to play in ‘red shirts with blue trim’. The resourceful Houlding retrieved a set of blue and white shirts and dark shorts left over from earlier seasons and re-used until September 1896, when the now famous red jersey paired with white shorts was introduced. Good move, John!

The tragedies of Heysel and Hillsborough are remembered by a black armband with ‘Memoria e Amicizia 29 May 85’ embroidered upon it, and a lighted candle in one of the special candle holders used in the Hillsborough memorial services held at Anfield for 25 years.

A ‘Supporters All Over The World’ scarf lies beside a couple of long-playing records. Liverpool FC had quite probably the first international supporters club, started during the 1972-73 season. ‘The Kop Choir’ record also celebrates the incredible Liverpool home supporters who have made Anfield and the Spion Kop, World-famous. Recorded in 1969, this was the result of a competition sponsored by brewers Watneys, who held a ‘Battle of the Kop Choirs’ – the title suggests they already knew who would win! The record went ‘gold’ then ‘platinum’ and has never been out of production. ‘Carousel’ 12” vinyl record offers a coded message back to Rogers & Hammerstein’s original, which inspired Gerry Marsden to record his now famous version in 1963. Many others have recorded this classic, other football clubs have joined in the singing, but when this group of Anfield legends finally join together at the end of this fantastical meeting and sing our anthem, who won’t have a tear in their eye?

Scouting books owned by Geoff Twentyman. A Liverpool left-half in the 1950’s and a Shankly favourite, he returned to Anfield to become a much loved, but over-looked, member of the ‘Boot Room’. His impact as scout for managers Shankly, Paisley, Fagan and Dalglish is beyond measure as he found such remarkable players as Neal, Hansen and Rush – to name but three!

The Man with a Golden Rake. Arthur Riley was Anfield groundsman from 1928-1982, having taken over from his father. At the end of this incredible service to the club, during which time Bill Shankly described the Anfield playing surface as ‘professional grass’, Riley was awarded a golden rake as his retirement present.

Peter B. Robinson was LFC’s greatest administrator, personifying ‘The Liverpool Way’ by conducting himself with the highest levels of integrity and good manners and a fiercely held belief that private negotiations were exactly that – private – until it was time to make a public announcement. Peeping into his monogrammed briefcase might reveal contracts agreeing the signing of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush or Bob Paisley as manager!

A Boston Red Sox cap hangs from a peg, in tribute to NESV, the Boston based owners, who have brought success back to their other club.